Riichi Mahjong in Singapore

Attendance Points system to replace Table Points system

The attendance points (AP) system is used to track the commitment level of members in terms of a period by period base. This is created to greatly reduce the tremendous advantage the veteran players might have from accumulated points. For example, a veteran player can have accumulated 100 points from the past 6 months. A newcomer who wish to commit regularly might be deterred to do so because he/she will probably take another 6 months before he/she can catch up to any veteran player. So this AP system aims to alleviate this problem.

The higher the AP one has, the higher the priority one gets to play the first time. In an event of a tie, it will be determined by draw lots.

The following situations allow you to earn or lose AP.

Notes

• Sit-out is defined by being present at the session and has played at least one game.
• Spectator refers to one who is neither registered for MCR or Riichi and is present at the START of a game. (Details below)
• Absent means players who did not attend the session regardless registered or not.
• Maximum AP a player can have: 100
• Minimum AP a player can have: 0

Spectator

The definition of a spectator is any player who is present at the START of a game. I understand this is an odd definition and therefore shall explain the rationale. Spectator doesn’t really have to watch the game, but the main thing is to be present. To be present at the start of a game means the spectator can potentially fill a table as a 4th player or a replacement of a latecomer. At the start of a game is also the best time when organisers are most attentive as they are organising the players to their tables so it is the most practical approach for organisers to keep track of spectators. So basically spectators are people who should get -5 waived.

Various situations addressed between MCR and Riichi sections

• If a Riichi registered player switch to MCR section to reduce sit-out, the player will be classified under sit-out and therefore receive 5 AP.
• If a Riichi registered player switch to MCR section in the middle of the section, the player will be classified under sit-out and therefore receive 5 AP.
• A MCR registered player who is a sit-out at the MCR section is not classified under as a spectator.

Conversion of Table Points the Attendance Points

Those who have been accumulated Table Points, will have them automatically converted to AP by dividing by 5 and round up.

Facts/Implications of this system

• To reach 100 AP takes about 15 games, around 2 months assuming you attend every session.
• You only need to attend two sessions per month to climb the AP ranking steadily.
• The current player with highest table points has 36 AP after conversion and he does not have a 100% attendance rate (nobody has). It is highly likely for any player to overtake him if he miss the first 2 sessions and the player attend the first 2 sessions.

This system will take effect from 2nd January  session. A separate post on all members’ starting AP will be done soon.

Feng